Gratitude...A powerful spiritual tool

Yesterday, I lost my cool on I-85 during my commute home.  I usually could care less about those who wish to engage in road rage.  I usually don't let traffic bother me.  I usually am talking to friends (on my hands free device) or talking to God, listening to Dave Ramsey or some good worship music or Andy Stanley message.  However, yesterday, I found myself not in fit spiritual condition.  I was about 1/2 way home when I was driving in the left lane (the lane closest to the HOV lane for you fellow Atlantans and Gwinnettians). 

 I was driving about 65 when a sports sedan got right on my tail and began to flash his lights at me as if to say, "You're driving way to slow, and whatever I am in a hurry to get to is way more important than you or I arriving safely".  I try to accommodate such people just to avoid getting frustrated and i'll move over a lane.  However, yesterday I could not.  There were several cars to the right of me and even slowing down drastically so I could let him by would have been a futile effort.  So I ignored his request and kept my distance from the car in front of me.  This did not make him happy.  He then proceeded to illegally move into the HOV lane and pass me as close to my car as physically possible.  If i had my window down, I could have touched his side view mirror.  He then moved back into my lane, coming ever so close to clipping my left front quarter panel.  I then did something I don't usually do.  




I honked.  


I was mad.  


He then told me in an all too common way that I was his "number 1" three consecutive times, which got under my skin.  But I didn't do anything towards his direction.  I just let his actions bother me.  Then I was mad at myself for letting him get under my skin.   There's no reason to treat anyone like that.  Was I wrong for honking my horn at him?  Perhaps.  He was probably just hoping I would react to his behavior so he could vent some of his anger at himself the the world at me.  When I honked at him, I enabled him to take his rage further.  So for that I am sorry.   


Its at this point that I could write about forgiveness and confession or acceptance or prayer for others.  But today I'm going to take the gratitude slant.   Later on that evening, I confessed my guilt to my wife about letting that guy get under my skin and honking at him.  That relieved my guilt.  Within 10 minutes of the incident, I was praying to God for forgiveness and that my heart would forgive him.  But what truly gave me peace about the situation was gratitude.


I'm grateful that I'm not carrying around what he is.


I'm grateful that I didn't get as angry as I once did and could have escalated the situation worse.


I'm grateful that I have a job, a paid for car, and the opportunity to connect with friends on my commute home.


Gratitude acknowledges that I am not the source of peace, of the good things in my life.  Gratitude acknowledges that God is the reason for all things in my life. 


Gratitude gets me out of self.  Gratitude helps me not to be self-centered and prideful (probably my biggest character defect) and helps keep me from the sinful nature.  Gratitude helps me think of others.  Gratitude helps me grow in my relationship with God.


How does one practice Gratitude?


I do this in five ways:

1. Get on your knees.  First thing in the morning.  Prayer is the best way to get your mind and spirit centered on our Creator.  It is the way I thank God for everything He has sent my way and for everyone he has put into my life.  The days my first thoughts are "thank you, God for this new day.  Thank you, God for saving me" are the days that I have peace.  
2. Talk to God throughout the day.  Tell him whats on your mind and remember he wants to hear from you.  Its about getting your heart in the right spot to be available to serve Him. Sometimes you do have to "fake it until you make it".  That has been my experience. 
3. Remember where everything comes from: See I can see Gas prices tick up 10 cents in one week and immediately get angry or fall into fear of financial insecurity, or I can react like this "Thank you God for providing me the resources to fill my car up with gasoline, with the job that I'm driving to today, with the car that I am able to drive and that is economical on gas (I drive a '97 Honda Civic)."  I can focus on what I don't have, or I can be grateful for the abundance I have from God.  
4. Remember I was a sinner and He saved me.  When things get really squirrelly in my head and I'm in selfish mode, if I can remember that "Oh yeah, remember that sin and death problem you have no power over, well God saved me from that through His Son, Jesus Christ".  Its really difficult to be upset about where I am at today when I can remember that the price for my sins has been paid in full.  When I can remember that I am here for God's purpose.  Gratitude for the gift of salvation makes every other "problem" in my life seem insignificant.  Here's the side benefit of remembering where my salvation came from - I'll want to share that with others.  There is nothing that helps me get out of my self better than sharing Christ with others.
5. Make a list.  When all else fails - make a gratitude list.  Write it down.  You will be surprised at what this will do in your life.

So back to my I-85 Story.  I'm grateful that God got my attention that I was not in fit spiritual condition, without me creating any wreckage (literally, spiritually and relationally).  I was able to confess to my wife and thank God for speaking to me.  Then, get this, I was able to pray for the guy on the highway....and honestly hope that he feels better about himself and the world that that if he doesn't know God, that one day he may.

I want to close today with a quote that is printed up and hanging in my office.  It is by Melody Beattie.  I first read this in my Recovery Devotional Bible.  It is so beautiful.  I pray you can experience a gratitude attack today.  Be blessed!

Say thank you, until we mean it. Thank God, life and the Universe for everyone and everything sent your way. 

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  It turns problems into gifts, failures into successes, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events.  It can turn an existence into a real life, and disconnected situations into important and beneficial lessons.  Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

Gratitude makes things right.

Gratitude turns negative energy into positive energy.  There is no situation or circumstance so small or large that it is not susceptible to gratitude’s power.  We can start with who we are and what we have today, apply gratitude, then let it works its magic.

Say thank you, until you mean it.  If you say it long enough, you will believe it.

-Melody Beattie